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Kenly, N.C. — Investigators on Tuesday first publicly identified robbery as the motive in the slaying of a Kenly man as they began circulating fliers offering a reward for clues in the case.

A relative found James E. "Tom" Cooper, 80, dead inside his home at 111 Crumpler Road June 8. He had been robbed and beaten to death, Sheriff Steve Bizzell said. An autopsy found that he died of blunt force trauma to the head.

Cooper was last seen at a convenience store in Kenly around 9 p.m. a day earlier.

The sheriff's office has offered a $2,500 reward for information leading to an arrest in the slaying.

Cooper had retired from a career as a truck broker.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to call the Johnston County Sheriff's Office at 919-989-5000.